Tooth powder applicator



Oct. 23, 1956 F. A. WlGGlN TOOTH POWDER APPLICATOR Filed Sept. 13. 1954 INVENTOR. Ha ue/( H. W100 w JZM Q fi TTGENE Y5 2,767,745 TOOTH POWDER APPLICATOR Frederick A. Wiggin, Seatfle, Wash. Application September 13, 1954, Serial No. 455,544 2 Claims. (Cl. 141-328) This invention relates to what I have designated as a tooth powder applicator, and it has reference more particularly to a device designed to be used for the applying of tooth powder from a can or container onto the bristles, or head portion, of a tooth brush.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a practical, easy to use and relatively inexpensive device, which is in the nature of a tooth brush holder, or positioning means and which includes a hopper portion into which a desired amount of tooth powder can be poured from the container for its deposition, directly and properly onto the bristles of the positioned tooth brush head without any waste or spilling of material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an applicator of the character and for the purpose above stated, that is easy to keep in a clean and sanitary condition; that is usable with tooth brushes of diflferent sizes and kinds; that is so designed that it can be hung on a nail or hook or conveniently stored or kept ready for use in any common type of tooth brush holder, and which, by its use, makes it possible for a user to keep the hands clean and free of tooth powder.

Further objects and advantages reside in the details of construction, relationship and combination of parts, and in the mode of use of the device, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tooth powder applicator embodied by the present invention and showing a tooth brush as positioned thereon for the application of tooth powder to the bristles of the brush head.

Fig. 2 is a top, or plan view of the applicator.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, showing in dot and dash lines the position of a tooth brush when placed in position on the applicator for the application of tooth powder to the bristles of the brush head.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, showing the relationship of the hopper to the housing wherein the brush head is located to receive the powder.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In its present preferred form of construction, the applicator comprises a flat and straight handle portion 10, resembling the handle of a typical tooth brush, that extends from one end of an open ended, box-form of housing 11 which supports a hopper 12 thereon.

The housing 11, as shown best in Fig. 4, comprises a flat, horizontal bottom wall 11a that, in effect, is a continuation of the handle 10; opposite sidewalls, 11b11b, that extend vertically upward from the opposite side edges of the bottom wall, and a top wall which is formed by the base portion of the hopper 12; it being understood that the handle, hopper and housing preferably are integrally formed as a single or unitary piece.

The hopper 12, comprises the upwardly and outwardly diverging opposite side walls 12a-12a, and opposite end walls 12c12c. Along the bottom or base of the hopper, centrally over and longitudinally of the housing 11, the hopper compartment is provided with a narrow, elongated discharge slot 15. The opposite ends of the housing 11 are open, and the rectangular passage, as provided lengthwise of and through the housing, is of such dimensions ,1 grates Patent that the bristle or brush head of the tooth brush can be easily and readily moved into and from the same.

In Fig. 1, I have shown an ordinary type of tooth brush, designated in its entirety by numeral 20, as applied to the present applicator for the application of tooth powder to the brush head 2011. To easily and properly place the tooth brush for receiving powder, it is inverted and its head and handle portions laid flatly upon the handle portion 10 of the applicator. It is then moved endwise in such manner as to locate the brush head Ziih entirely within the housing passage directly below the slot 15, as has been shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When in this position, the bristle head of the brush is ready to receive the tooth powder thereon. Then, while the applicator and brush, as thus assembled, are held by their handle portions in one hand, the user pours a desired quantity of tooth powder from the container into the hopper compartment and it is caused to be discharged therefrom through the slot 15 onto the bristles of the brush head. Then the tooth brush is withdrawn from the applicator and is ready for use in the normal way. The applicator can be placed back in a holder or rack in the same manner that a tooth brush would be placed therein. The handle 10 is provided at its end with a hole 10x permitting it to be applied to a hook or nail if this is desired.

Devices of this kind can be cast all in one piece of plastic or of other suitable materials, and can be made in various and attractive colors. might be formed without the extended handle portions 10 and merely equipped with a suitable form of bottom that permits the hopper and housing portions to be placed for use upon any convenient or suitable form of support.

By use of an applicator of this kind, the users hands can be kept free of powder, and the powder can be applied to the brush head without the necessity of the head or powder touching the hands of the user.

Various details of construction, design, relative dimensions, and materials might be changed from those shown and described herein, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tooth powder applicator comprising a housing providing a horizontal, open ended passage in dimensions permitting the disposition of the bristle head portion of a tooth brush lengthwise therein with the bristles of said head directed toward the top of the passage, a handle portion extended from said housing at one end of said passage and in the plane of its bottom and along which the handle portion of a tooth brush may be flatly disposed for support when its bristle head is applied to said passage and permitting said handle portions of applicator and brush to be held together in the same hand, a hopper formed on top of said housing, provided along its bottom with a discharge slot through which tooth powder supplied to the hopper will be discharged into the bristle head of a held tooth brush as contained in the pasasge.

2. An applicator as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing passage comprises a bottom, top and opposite side walls, and said hopper discharge slot opens through the top wall of said passage substantially to its full length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wekerle Jan. 20, 1953 Likewise, such devices 

